Houses
In 1999 I bought a house with my now ex-girlfriend. We paid £27,950 for it, then broke up about 6 months afterwards.

Mistake 1: I moved out, leaving her with the house, on the understanding that she pays to have my name removed from the mortgage. Instead of doing so, she proceeds to sit on her arse, paying nothing to live there and letting mortgage arrears mount up.

Mistake 2: A year after the break up, literally as the bank were about to go to court to repossess, she got in touch and said I could take over the house, on condition I repay the mortgage arrears. The bank refused to allow me to remove her name from the mortgage while there were arrears owing. So, instead of paying a solicitor £100 or so to draw up a contract writing off her interest in the place, I did it myself. Then lost it.

Mistake 3: Fast forward to 2004, the arrears were all paid off, and I was paying a comfortable £170 a month mortgage. I still hadn't got the ex's name off the mortgage. Then I bumped into her. At the bus stop in the next street. On valentines day. With my new girlfriend. Carrying a massive card, a bunch of flowers, and a huge teddy. Cue female scorn.

Mistake 4: She gives me the option to buy her out for £10,000, or sell the place. I'm stubborn, and opt for the latter. The place goes on the market for £50,000, and sells within days.

Now, that place is worth £90,000, and I'm paying £600 a month in rent. Absolutely gutted.
(bblgoose, Sat 27 Oct 2007, 15:38, Reply)